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People’s Freedom in Electing the Imām
1. Imām Ali (a.s.), in a letter to the Kufans while leaving Madina for Basra: “People swore allegiance to me, not by force or compulsion, but willingly and with free choice.” 1
2. Imām Ali (a.s.): “The Messenger of God departed and I saw myself the most worthy among the people for this affair [of leadership]. But people agreed upon Abu Bakr for ruling. So I listened and obeyed.
Then came the death of Abu Bakr and I presumed that it [the government] would be handed over to no one but me, but he appointed `Umar as ruler. Again I listened and obeyed. Then `Umar was injured and I presumed that it would not be given to someone other than me, but `Umar turned it over to six persons
of whom I was one. It was given to `Uthmān, and I listened and obeyed. `Uthmān was then killed and the people came to me and swore allegiance to me willingly with no compulsion.2
1.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Letter ۱, al-Jamal, p. ۲۴۴, al-Amāli by al-Tusi, p. ۷۱۸, h. ۱۵۱۸.
2.. Tārikh Dimashq, vol.۴۲, p. ۴۳۹, Usd al-Ghāba, vol. ۴, p. ۱۰۶, h. ۳۷۸۹.
